The White House said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the development of a maritime action plan. The goal is to revitalize the U.S. maritime industrial base and workforce as part of a push to restore the country’s maritime dominance and promote national security and economic prosperity.
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Maritime Action Plan
Under the EO, the assistant to the president for national security affairs should coordinate with the secretaries and heads of federal agencies to submit the plan to the president within 120 days. The director of the Office of Management and Budget will be responsible for all regulatory, legislative and fiscal assessments related to the action plan.
Defense Production Act Title III Authorities
The new policy directs the defense secretary to provide the APNSA and OMB director an assessment of options regarding the use of Defense Production Act Title III authorities and private capital to expand and invest in the industrial base. This should include the expansion of component supply chains, port infrastructure, and defense and commercial shipbuilding capabilities.
The secretary of defense should also identify key maritime components in the supply chain necessary for rebuilding and broadening the industrial base and ensure that recommendations take into consideration several factors. These should include the projected increases to commercial and defense capabilities, the projected benefits to the workforce and taxpayers and the projected growth in economic activity.
Maritime Security Trust Fund
In addition to the establishment of a financial incentives program for shipbuilding, the EO calls for the OMB director to develop a legislative proposal to advance the creation of a maritime security trust fund that could serve as a funding source to provide support for Maritime Action Plan programs. The legislative proposal should consider how tariff revenue, fees, fines or tax revenue could help establish a dedicated funding source for the plan’s programs.
The order also requires the establishment of maritime prosperity zones, identification of maritime industry needs, modernization of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the development of a strategy to help secure Arctic waterways.
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